By SCOTT PETRAK

Staff Writer

BEREA — The Browns-Ravens rivalry will have added juice when they meet again in November.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh accused the Browns defense of intentionally gouging the eyes of running back Willis McGahee, who left the game twice Sunday with eye injuries. The Ravens filed a complaint with the NFL, but a league spokesman Thursday afternoon said there was no evidence.

“It’s on the tape,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “There were two incidents, two different guys.

“We sent it in and we talked to the league. We asked them for their opinion on what happened.”

Harbaugh declined to name the Browns players, but ESPN.com reported linebacker Andra Davis as one of the alleged guilty parties. Davis wasn’t made available for comment, but film of the play showed Davis inadvertently getting his hand stuck in McGahee’s face mask on a run in the third quarter.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said he didn’t see any evidence of illegal activity while watching game film, and said he coaches his team to play hard and within the rules. He was asked if the accusation was more of a concern because it came from a coach.

“It will be a concern if the league fines one of my guys for doing something illegal,” he said before the ruling.

McGahee suffered a cut on his right eyelid and was also poked in his left eye, according to the Ravens. He left the field bleeding, despite wearing a visor attached to his helmet.

“I just find it hard to believe it could happen in a game with a visor on,” Cleveland linebacker Leon Williams said. “That’s the purpose of a visor.”

 THE CRIBBS EFFECT: The special teams have yet to make an impact in three games, and Crennel said the explanation is simple. “Josh has been hurt,” he said of Cribbs. “When you talk about the impact, you talk about Josh Cribbs. “He was the guy that was the impact. He was the leading tackler, he was the guy who was running for touchdowns in the return game. He’s hurt, so he’s not where he was last year.” Cribbs missed the opener with a high ankle sprain but has played the last two games, adding a shoulder injury. He’s averaged 18.5 yards on four kickoff returns and 9.7 on seven punt returns. His long return is 24 yards. “He’s trying to slam it in there, but he can’t do the things he did last year right yet,” Crennel said. “He made a couple moves last week that showed he was getting better.”

 INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Willie McGinest (hamstring) and left guard Eric Steinbach (shoulder) didn’t practice. If they don’t practice again today, they would be doubtful for Sunday versus the Bengals. … Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was added to the injury report with a groin injury and was limited in practice. … Crennel said receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps) looked rusty Wednesday in his return to practice. He was limited again Thursday. … Special teamer Kris Griffin (calf) returned to practice in a limited role.

 BAD CAREER MOVE: Defensive lineman Shaun Smith played with receiver Chad Ocho Cinco for three years in Cincinnati and doesn’t approve of the name change from Johnson. “Chad’s just doing that for attention,” Smith said. “It doesn’t make sense to change your name. You’ve been born with that name, keep your name. When football’s over, you can’t get a job like that. Chad Ocho Cinco.”

Petrak may be reached at spetrak@chroniclet.com or 440-329-7136.